San Juan Oaks Golf Club is looking to get more younger players and families interested in the game. To do so, it is trying something new with two upcoming events featuring 15-inch holes.
An event called Family Golf Day is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26 at San Juan Oaks near Hollister. It will include 15-inch cups on the front nine with special 150-yard tees on every hole. Then the following Sunday, Nov. 2, a 9-hole golf tournament aimed at regular players is set for a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
San Juan Oaks General Manager Scott Fuller said the club and industry are trying such efforts in light of golf’s downturn in recent years. The idea for 15-inch cups came from an industry website – hackgolf.com, set up by TaylorMade’s chief executive officer – where people share ideas on innovating the game.
“That’s one thing we’ve decided to do for fun,” Fuller said.
There will be the 15-inch cups on the front nine with 150-yard markers on each one. Parents and kids came come and play from those while regular play – with the 4.25-inch cups – is happening at the same time, Fuller said.
The event Nov. 2 is for types of players with a handicap and there will be prizes involved, said Fuller, who acknowledged some purists won’t like larger holes.
“It’s just to see if people will embrace it as a fun alternative,” Fuller said. “It’s not intended to take the place of regular, competitive golf.”
Other ideas out there to get more people playing include shorter courses, more nine-hole courses, courses using less land, and playing the same nine holes twice from different locations, Fuller mentioned.
FAMILY GOLF DAY:
WHO: Families and youths
WHAT: Family Golf Day
WHEN: 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 26
WHERE: San Juan Oaks
PRICE: $25 for adults, $10 for juniors 12 and under with an adult
MORE INFO: (831) 636-6113
15-inch Golf Tournament:
WHO: Regular players
WHAT: 15-inch, 9-hole tournament
WHEN: 1 p.m. Nov. 2
PRICE: $45
MORE INFO: (831) 636-6113
